Feeler mechanism for looms



Dec, 23, 1924.

Filea Feb. 1s, 19244 )NMEA/TOR Patented Dec. 23, 1924.

Tes

OFFICE.l

MELVIN L. STONE, 0F LAWRENCE, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO` DRAPERCORPORA- TION, OF HOPEDALE, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION OF MAINE.

FEELER MECHANISM FOBl LOOMS.

Application filed February 13, 1924. Serial No. 692,512.

To all whom t may concern.'

Be it known that I, `MELVIN L. STONE, a citizen of the United States,and a resident ot Lawrence, in the county of Essex and State ofMassachusetts, have invented an Improvement in Feeler Mechanisms forLooms, of which the following description, in connection with theaccompanying drawings, is a specification, like characters on thedrawings representing like parts.

This invention relates to eeler mechanisms for looms whereby theoperative condition of the loom is changed from time to time.

In that type of feeler mechanisms for looms wherein the eeler is given amovement longitudinally of the shuttle to change the operative conditionof the loom, as for instance, replenishment of filling, it happ-ens attimes that the frontward impact of the working supply of filling in theshuttle will cause the eeler to jump and fail to be held by the illingfrom its side swipe movement. This is particularly observable in thattype of eeler mechanisms wherein the eeler is mounted to enter theshuttle in a direction inclined to the longitudinal axis thereof,although it will happen with other types of 'eelers.

One of the principal objects of the invention is to provide a feelermechanism of the side swipe type wherein the feeler is locked againstmovement longitudinally of the shuttle when a working supply of fillingis present on a detecting beat, and is freed to partake of its sideswipe movement when the filling has approached a degree of substantialexhaustion.

In the feeler mechanism shown, described and claimed in the Edward S.Stimpson Patent, No. 1,309,226, July 8, 1919, the eeler is given itsside swipe movement by the frontward pressure upon the feeler on adetecting beat, and the present invention is, in the present instance,shown and described in conn-ection with such type of feeler mechanism,wherein its advantages are readily observable.

In accordance with the present invention, the feeler has mounted thereona locking member which normally operates to prevent side swipe movementof the Jfeeler when a working supply of filling is present in theshuttle on a detecting beat, and when the lilling has approached adegree of depletion approximating substantial exhaustion, the lockingmember 1s moved on and relative to the feeler to unlock the eeler andfree being shown as are desirable in making clear the construction andmode of operationof the feeler mechanism; l

Fig. 2 is an enlarged side elevation of the feeler mechanism, showingthe position of parts when a working supply of iilling is present in theshuttle on a detecting beat;

Fig. 3 is a view similar to that of Fig. 2 with the parts in theposition they occupy when the locking member is moved into unlockingposition by a predetermined depletion of the iilling in the shuttle;

j Fig` 4 is a detached perspective View of the locking member; and

Fig. 5 is a cross-section on the line of Fig. 2.

The feeler mechanism as herein shown is associated with meansforelfecting a replenishment of illing when the teeler detectssubstanial exhaustion on a detecting beat, but the replenishingmechanism itself is not herein illustrated because the details thereofform nofessential part of the present invention and are now well known.

Extending from the loom frame is the projection portion 1 which mayconstitute a part of or be secured to the shipper stand. The part 1 isprovided,-as shown, with a slot 2 through which extends a bolt 3 alsopassing through a slot 4 in a feeler stand supporting bracket 5, theparts being arranged so that the feeler mechanism may be convenientlyadjusted in feeling position.

The bracket 5 has a feeler stand supporting j portion 6 to which isadjustably secured the feeler stand 7 by means of a bolt 8 passingthrough a slot 9 in the -feeler stand.

The eeler stand is provided with a front and rear bearing for the feelerand in the present instance the feeler stand 7 has a rear bearing 10projecting upwardly therefrom and provided with a slot 11. The bearing10 is provided with a guideway for a slide 12 which is also providedwith a slot portion 13 through which the feeler 14 extends. The slide 12is mounted in the rear bearing for lateral movement therein and isconnected at l5 to a transmitter llo which constitutes a part of thetrain of mechanism for effecting replenishment of lilling when thefeeler is given its side swipe movement.

The front portion of the feeler stand has a bracket 17 which has mountedtherein the swivel bearing 1S through which extends the frontwardlyprojecting` stem 19 of the feeler, and between the swivel bearing 1S andva collar 2O on the feeler is interposed a spring 2l which normally actsto move the feeler to its rearward feeling position. The parts so fardescribed and as shown may be of substantially the same construction andmode of operation as the similar parts in the Stimpson patenthereinbefore mentioned.

Overlying the rear bearing l() and contining the slide 12 in itsguideway is a cap plate 22 which may be conveniently secured to the rearbearing by the screws 23. The cap plate 22, in the present instance, isextended upwardly at 2li, Fig. 5, to provide a space 25 for movement ofthe locking member on and relative to the feeler.

The feeler l2 has mountedd thereon the locking member 2G, which, asshown, is connected to the feeler conveniently at the side thereof formovement on and relative to the feeler. In the present instance, thelocking member 26 is provided with the inclined slots 27 through whichextend the pins 23, the construction being such that the locking memberassumes a locking position relative to the feeler to cooperate with alocking part to prevent movement of the feeler in a directionlongitudinally of the shuttle when a working supply is present on adetecting beat. Ordinarily the weight of the locking member 26 will besuiiicient to cause the locking member to assume its lowered or locking`position, but in some cases it maybe desirable to provide additionalmeans to this end, such, for instance, as the spring` 29 having aportion 30 overlying the locking member and appropriately secured to thefeeler, as, for instance, by the screw 3l.

The rear bearing 10, in the present instance, is provided with a notch32 with which the locking member 26 engages when the locking member isin locking position, and if desired the slide 12 may also be providedwith a similar notch, as indicated in Fig. 5, which registers with thelocking notch 32 when the feeler is in rearward feeling position andlocked from its side swipe movement by the locking member.

The present invention contemplates that when the shuttle contains aworking supply of filling on detecting beats that the locking memberwill be engagedl with the locking part or notch 32 in the rear bearingof the feeler stand and also it may be with the similar locking notch inthe slide l2 to thereby restrain the feeler from premature side swipemovement, and when the filling han been depleted to an extentapproaching substantial exhaustion, it is the purpose of the presentinvention to cause the locking member to be moved on and relative to thefeeler to position the locking member in unlocking relation with thelocking part or notch 32.

Mounted on the feeler 'l2 is the arm which extends rearwardly throughthe rear end 34 of the feeler and is provided with a filling penetratingpoint 35. The arm 33 tends through a bearing 36 mounted on the feeler,and is provided with a shoulder or abutment 37 which bears upon the rearturned end portion 33 of the locking inember. ln the present vinstancethe end 33 of the locking member is provided with a slot 39 throughwhich the front end portion of the arm 33 extends and the abutment 37 isshown as formed by a nut threaded on the arm 33 for adjustment. Alsoadjustably threaded on t e arm 33 is the stop 4t() which acts as alimiting means for determining the rearward position of the penetratingpoint 35 when the locking member is in locking position, as indicated inFig. 2. i

The lay il carries the usual shuttle box 4t2 to receive the shuttle i3wherein is mounted the filling carrier or bobbin lr-t. lThe front wallof the shuttle is provided with an opening 45, and similarly the frontwall of the shuttle box is provided with an opening 4G, said openingsbeing in registered relation when the shuttle is properly boxed topermit the feeler 14 to enter the shuttle and feel for the filling.

In cases where the feeler is of the inclined type, as shown, the rearend of the feeler is given a normal lateral movement by the frontwardpressure of the filling on each detecting beat, and the notch 32 is madeof sufticient size to permit such normal movement, and when the fillingis depleted to a degree approaching substantial exhaustion, the lockingmember 26 is moved on and relative to the feeler by engagement of thepoint 35 of the arm 33 with the more dense surface of the iillingcarrier or bobbin on a detecting beat, the result being that movement ofthe locking member relative to the feeler causes the former to be movedfrontwardly and upwardly relative to the feeler, in the presentinstance, to place the locking member in unlocking position, whereuponthe feeler is freed to its side swipe movement when the lling becomessubstantially exhausted.

From the construction and description it will be apparent that when aworking supply of filling is present in the shuttle on a detecting beatand the locking member is in locking position, the penetrating point 35of the arm 33 will sink into the filling and the locking member willremain in locking position. Vhen, however, the lilling has approachedsubstantial exhaustion and only a few strands of the filling remain uponthe iilling carrier or bobbin, the point 35 of the arm 33 will engagethe more dense surface of the filling carrier or bobbin, as. indicatedin Fig. 3, and will be moved frontwardly relative to the fee-ler,thereby causing the locking member 26 to be moved on and relative to thefeeler into an unlocking position, F ig. 3. The unlocking position of'the locking member, in the present instance, is effected by the arm 33and the inclined slots 27 on the locking member cooperating with thepins 2S which connect it to the eeler. The construction is sin'iple,effective and peculiarly adaptable tothe side swipe type of feeler, andapplicant believes himsel-'f to be the first in the art to provide a.locking member mounted on the feeler for movement relative thereto intoan unlocking position when the filling in the shuttle has been depletedto a predetermined degree, and while the construction shown anddescribed is a good practical form of the 1nvention, it is to beunderstood that the invention may be carried into efi'ect through themedium of different details within the true scope of the invention aspointed out by the claims.

IVhat is claimed is:

1. In a feeler mechanism for looms, the combination of a feeler, af'eeler lock mounted on the feeler, a stationary part which cooperateswith the feeler lock to prevent the feeler calling for a change offilling prematurely, and a penetrating lock tripping part which actsupon the feeler lock to move it on the feeler from locking engagementwith the said stationary part when the penetrating lock tripping partcontacts with the dense surface of the bobbin on a detecting` beat.

2. In a feeler mechanism for looms, the combination of a feelersupported for normal lateral movement by the frontward pressure of aworking supply of filling in the shuttle on a detecting beat and anabnormal lateral movement along the filling carrier when the filling issubstantially exhausted on a detecting beat, a feeler locking memberwhich is mounted on the feeler and permits normal lateral but preventsabnormal lateral movement of the feeler by the frontward pressure on adetecting beat until the [illing reaches a condition approachingsubstantial exhaustion and which is then moved on and relative to thefeeler into an unlocking position to permit the abnormal lateralmovement of the feeler.

3. In a feeler mechanism for looms, the combination of a feeler, alocking member mounted on the feeler, a stationary cooperating lockingpart with which said lookin-g member is normally engaged during weavingwith a working supply of filling to prevent movement of said lockingmember and the feeler on which it is mounted in a directionlongitudinally of the shuttle until the lling is substantiallyexhausted, and means for directing the movement of' the locking memberout of engagement with the cooperating stationary part when the lockingmember is moved on the feeler relative thereto on a detecting beat.

l. In a feeler mechanism for looms, the combination of a feeler mountedto enter the shut-tle in a direction inclined to the longitudinal axisthereof, a locking member mounted on the feeler for movement with andrelative thereto a fixed locking part with which the locking member isnormally engaged so long as a working supply of filling is in theshuttle on detecting beats, and means cooperating with the fillingcarrier when the filling has approached a condition' near to substantialexhaustion on a detecting beat Jfor moving the locking member on thefeeler relative to the cooperating stationary locking part and out'ofengagement therewith to permit the feeler to side swipe.`

5. In a feeler mechanism for looms, the combination of a feeler, alocking member mounted on the feeler, a fixed cooperating part on thef'eeler stand with which the locking member is normally engaged and withrelation to which it is moved frontwardly on detecting beats when aWorking supply of filling is in the shuttle, and a filling penetratingmember for moving the locking member from engagement With said fixedpart when it meets the more dense surface of the filling carrier on adetecting beat.

6. In a feeler mechanism for looms,`the combination of a feeler that ismounted to be displaced laterally along the filling carrier by thefrontward pressure to effect replenishment of filling, a locking membermovable on and relative to the f'eeler into and out of locking position,a fixed part on the feeler stand cooperating with the locking member tolock the feelenfrom lateral movement to call for a change of fillingwhen a working supply is in the shuttle on a detecting beat, apenetrating lock controller which is adapted to engage the more densesurface of the filling carrier when, on a detecting beat, the lling isdepleted to a predetermined extent and be moved frontwardly thereby, andmeans for transmitting such movement of the controller to the lockingmember to disengage it from the cooperatingfixed part that the feelermay be freed to call for a change of filling when that in the shuttle issubstantially exhausted.

7. In a feeler mechanism for looms, the combination of a feeler mountedfor movement in a direction longitudinally of the shuttle to efl'ectreplenishment of filling, a

locking member, connections between the feeler and locking memberincluding an inclined slot on one and a pin on the other engaging saidinclined slot constructed an'd arranged that movement of one relative tothe other Will effect movement of the locking member into or o-ut oflocking position, and means rendered effective When the filling isnearly exhausted on a detecting beat to move relatively the lockingmember and eeler to unlock the latter and free it to call forreplenishment of lilling when that in the shuttle is substantiallyexhausted on a detecting beat.

8. In a feeler mechanism for looms7 the combination of a feeler, alocking meinber mounted on the feeler, 4a fixed cooperating' lockingpart normally engaged by the locking member to restrain fillingreplenishing movement of the feeler as the latter is moved frontwardlyby a Working' supply of iilling on detecting bea-ts, and a fillingpenetrating member for moving the locking member out of engagement withthe :[ixed locking part when the penetrating member is moved by the moredense surface ot the Filling carrier.

9. In a feeler mechanism for looms, the combination of an inclinedfeeler, a locking member mounted on and movable relativelyY to thefeeler, a locking notch normally engaged by the locking member to holdthe :teeler from prematurely calling for a change of filling, a fillingpenetrating member for moving the locking member on and relatively tothe eeler out of engagement With the locking notch when the penetratingymember is moved relative to the feeler by engagement with the moredense surface oi the filling carrier.

10. In a eeler mechanism for looms, the combination of an inclinedteeler, a locking member mounted on and movable rela* tively to thefeeler, a locking notch normally engaged by the locking member to holdthe feeler from prematurely calling for a change of iilling, a fillingpenetrating member for moving the locking member 011 and relatively tothe feeler, and means for directing the movement of the locking memberto carry it.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification.

lVIELVIN L. STONE.

